In the pink

MAT-SU — To hear Mokie Tew tell it, the Mat-Su Valley has an accessibility problem.

“People with DUIs, school kids, just people in general trying to get around without a car — it’s very expensive,” Tew said. “We need a mass transit out here.”

Tew could have brought his suggestion to state or local government, or started a petition to his representatives. But instead, Tew bought seven buses and is planning to run them on fixed routes throughout the Valley and to and from Anchorage.

Tew owns a series of automotive shops and heavy-equipment operations known for their pink buildings and trucks. He said time and again that he has seen employees struggle to get to work. Having three children, he knows how hard it is for them to get around.

“We have enough people. It needs to happen,” Tew said. “If we can help, we can help.”

Tew said he sees his service running in cooperation with the existing Matanuska-Susitna Community Transit Service. MASCOT focuses more on picking up individual riders with special transportation needs, he said. His bus service, tentatively called Valley Mover, would run strict routes at certain times to give commuters a better idea of when they are going to be where.

In the Valley, Tew’s idea is to run three routes: one from Willow down to Trunk Road, another from Fishhook to Trunk Road and a third from Knik-Goose Bay Road into Palmer.

In addition, Tew plans to run buses from the Trunk Road area into Anchorage, making stops at Chugiak and Eagle River along the way. The Anchorage bus service People Mover makes stops in those two towns, but they are facing cutbacks that may eliminate these routes, he said.

Tew bought his seven buses from People Mover, meaning they have the same bike racks and handicap accessibility. The buses are white now, but Tew has pink logos and stripes already on order.

In the future, Tew would like to see some regular bus stops built around the Valley. But until then, “I’m just going to do it the old Mat-Su Valley way. I have talked to a few people and asked them if I could stop there. So far, I have had nothing but positive reviews.”

Tew said nothing about the routes is finalized yet, but he plans to run the buses 16 hours a day seven days a week. He is asking for potential users to voice their opinions by e-mailing janet@valleymover.com or calling 892-8800.

Valley Mover is going to be a separate entity from Tew’s other businesses and run as a non-profit organization. He said he understands grant money is tight in this economy, so all the start-up costs are coming from his pocket.

“I believe people will see the need when we get a lot of riders. I believe when that happens, we will gain a lot of support from the local government that may help me fund this project,” Tew said. “But, if you would like to donate money to get it going, I will take it.”

The executive director of MASCOT, LaMarr Anderson, said the need is there for a fixed-route service. Anderson said the two services have already begun talks about working together, but there are issues to work out.

“It’s not a matter of saying we are just going to pay you for this ride,” Anderson said. “A lot of our rides are subsidized, and a lot of the money we get is federal money.”

In addition, Anderson said, most of the grant money for transportation services is funneled through the state. To get a piece, Tew will have to show how Valley Mover will fit into the comprehensive transportation plan.

“It’s a complicated process. He’ll see that there are more gyrations and hurdles that we are going to have to work through together,” Anderson said.

Undeterred, Tew said all he has left to do is get the state to do the final inspections on the buses and hire the certified drivers. He hopes to get Valley Mover up and running sometime in March.

“As the Valley grows, it need to mature into something that has mass transit to get it’s people around,” Tew said.

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.